Guide to the McMullen Family Papers, 1783-1969 and undated, bulk 1880-1945

Family of Irish origin living in Pennsylvania,
Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.

Family and business correspondence and invention papers of an
Irish Catholic family living in Pennsylvania, Baltimore, Md., and Washington, D.C., whose
members engaged in promoting inventions. The papers center on John Francis McMullen
(1830-1900), and his wife, Lavelette (Johnson) McMullen. Includes letters from relatives in
Ireland, from Virginia cousins and friends, from nuns of the Order of the Visitation of Holy
Mary, from business acquaintances, from friends traveling in the U.S. and Europe, and from
the novelist Mary Johnston; and papers relating to the settlement of a disputed legacy left
to Mary McMullen by Miss Jane Agnes Riggs, the last of the children of George Washington
Riggs, Washington banker. Also includes manuscripts of the Confederate poet, John Banister
Tabb, writings of Dysart and Mary McMullen, letters and poems of William Hand Browne,
editor, author, and librarian, and correspondence of Mary McMullen which gives glimpses of
the Riggs family.

Family and business correspondence and invention papers of the McMullen family, spanning
the years 1783-1969, with the majority of the material dating from about 1880-1945. Arranged
in the following series: Correspondence, Legal Papers, Pictures, Financial Papers, Invention Papers, Miscellaneous, and Volumes.

The papers of John McMullen (1791-1870), inventor, consist of correspondence concerning
family matters in Ireland; McMullen's efforts to assist relatives in gaining passage to the
United States, the operation of his farm in Sinking Valley in Pennsylvania; a trip to
England, 1850-1851, to sell his inventions; the invention of machines to knit stockings and
fish nets; patents; the receipt of the Exhibitor's Medal for a machine shown at the
Exhibition of the Works of All Nations at the Crystal Palace, London, England, in 1853
including a letter from President Millard Fillmore notifying him of the award; and an
exhibition of a knitting machine at the New York Crystal Palace at the Exhibition of the
Industry of All Nations in 1854.

The papers of John Francis McMullen (1830-1900), son of John McMullen, and of his wife,
Lavalette (Johnston) McMullen (d. 1941), daughter of John Warfield Johnston, senator from
Virginia, include correspondence while John Francis McMullen attended St. Mary's College,
Baltimore, Maryland; letters from William Hand Browne (1828-1912), editor and librarian,
describing his travels in the South during the early years of the Civil War; personal and
family correspondence with friends and relatives, including letters from Senator Johnston
containing references to his political activities; letters from the Sisters of the Order of
the Visitation of Holy Mary concerning the education of the McMullen daughters at various
schools run by the order; letters of Jean de Hedonville describing cattle ranching in
Montana, life on the Crow Indian Reservation, and a camping trip to Yellowstone National
Park; correspondence relating to the settlement of the estate of John Warfield Johnston; and
business correspondence concerning his father's inventions and cattle raising.

Correspondence of the children of John Francis and Lavalette McMullen consists of letters
of Mary McMullen, principally while a companion to Jane Agnes Riggs, daughter of George
Washington Riggs, Washington banker, describing Riggs family history and their travels in
Europe and the United States before World War I; letters to Mary from her cousin, novelist
Mary Johnston (1870-1936); family letters of John Francis McMullen II (d. 1944), an
engineer; letters of Benedict Dysart McMullen, writer, while serving with the American Red
Cross in Europe during World War I; correspondence of Joseph Benjamin McMullen (d. 1965),
inventor, concerning his many inventions, including aerial "drop" bombs during World War I,
automobile accessories, kitchen utensils, household gadgets, and pressure and pull firing
devices and collapsible vehicles during World War II; and papers relating to the settlement
of a disputed legacy left Mary McMullen by Jane Riggs and correspondence concerning the sale
of much of the inheritance. Also included are papers relating to the estates of the various
members of the McMullen family; invention papers consisting of patents and descriptions of
the work of John McMullen and Joseph B. McMullen; bills and receipts; lists of library books
and Catholic publications purchased; manuscripts of William Hand Browne, John Bannister
Tabb, Mary McMullen, and Dysart McMullen; and miscellaneous reports, certificates, and
invitations from the many schools the McMullens attended.

Volumes consist of various business books of John McMullen and John Francis McMullen;
subscription for the Catholic Church of Sinking Valley, 1830s; volumes of Joseph B. McMullen
concerning his inventions; notebooks of writings and clippings of Mary McMullen and Dyeart
McMullen; album of snapshots of their home, "Woodley," near Ellicott City, Maryland; and
notebooks of Nicketti McMullen containing copies of old letters and data. There are also
photographs of various members of the McMullen family and of homes at Wytheville, Thorn
Springs, and Ellicott City.

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